GRAND ISLAND – The Grand Island City Council approved a 14-page list of fee changes 7-0 at the Aug. 27 meeting.
Council members Maggie Mendoza, Bethany Guzinski, and Chuck Haase were absent from the meeting.
The fee changes included increases for aquatic passes, golfing fees, the Stolley Park train, the Community Fieldhouse, the Grand Island Public Library, and Redevelopment Plan Adoption.
Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity explained the addition of fees for filing Redevelopment Plan adoption paperwork. The fees are: Under $500,000, $1,500; $500,000 to $1.5 million, $2,500; $1.5 million to $3 million, $4,000; $3 million to $5 million, $7,500; and over $5 million, $10,000.
Council member Mitch Nickerson asked about the Redevelopment Plan fees. Nabity responded that other communities are charging the fees.
At the Grand Island Public Library, government and non-profit groups will continue to be able to rent rooms, at no charge, and it will continue to be so for those groups. The charges only apply for-profit entities, which previously were not able to book the rooms.
In other business, the City Council voted 7-0 to approve vacating a portion of an easement located at 2104 and 2120 S. Blaine St. A building permit to construct a garage at 2120 S. Blaine St. has been filed. There are no utility lines in the easement area.
The City Council also voted 7-0 to approve a field training contract between the Grand Island Fire Department and Panhandle EMS Training of Scottsbluff. Panhandle EMS Training has requested to send students to the Grand Island Fire Department for training.
The City Council voted 7-0 to approve the FY 2024-25 annual budget for the Fonner Park Business Improvement District (BID). The BID was created on Feb. 14, 2017.
The 2017 ordinance established the purpose of the BID, described the boundaries, and established that property in the district would be subject to a special assessment to support the purposes of the district.
The FY 2024-25 budget provides for special assessments for $53,202. The assessments for property owners are based on the front footage of the property. The BID plans to seek outside funding to help with a multi-year landscaping project.
The Grand Island City Council met Aug. 27, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
